The magic of the holidays is upon us, and local communities are kicking off the season with tree-lighting ceremonies, parades and family-oriented activities.

By Denise Bonura and Colleen Seidel/The Record Herald

The magic of the holidays is upon us, and local communities are kicking off the season with tree-lighting ceremonies, parades and family-oriented activities.

In Waynesboro

Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc. is getting in the spirit of the season with the annual tree-lighting ceremony in the square Friday night, Nov. 16, and the holiday parade starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.

The tree will be lit at the beginning of the 6 p.m. ceremony by Joanne Gaver of Wayne Heights, who donated the tree. Gaver's late husband James planted the tree in their front yard 35 years ago. Gaver dubbed the blue spruce "Jim's Tree" because it was her husband's baby.

The tree was cut down Monday by crews from Long Tree Specialist and lifted over electrical lines before being put on a flatbed truck provided by D.L. George and Sons. Gaver watched the workers place the tree in Center Square and trim it down Monday morning.

"It's pretty emotional," she said. "It's like a family friend that's been removed. I'm just hoping it brings people a lot of joy like it has brought my family for so many years."

Star Electric helped decorate the tree Monday while the 60-degree temperatures kept conditions mild. Denny Martin of Star Electric could be seen tying ball ornaments to the massive blue spruce from a cherry picker throughout the afternoon.

Emcee for the tree-lighting ceremony, which will run until 7:30 p.m., will be Tiny Michaels of 104.7 WAYZ. Music will be performed by OC Shift — a teen praise band from Otterbein Church, the Waynesboro Area Senior High School Band and the high school's Wayneaires.

New to this year's event will be indoor storytelling for children at 4 W. Main St., presented by Waynesboro's children's librarian Lori Milach.

Horse-drawn sleigh rides along Waynesboro's historic Main Street will be provided again this year by Keystone Classic Carriages. The L.L. Trolley Express will be "goodie headquarters" as John Shindledecker, dressed in period Victorian clothing, distributes holiday treats. The Waynesboro Lions Club will hand out free hot chocolate and "Santa's elves" will help break the 6-foot candy cane by Zoe's Chocolate Co.

Waynesboro's 56th annual holiday parade will roll east down Main Street beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at C.V. Avenue. Participants will disband in the Waynesboro Mall parking lot. Nearly 80 entries and more than two dozen floats are expected.

Area radio personality Bob Steele will emcee the parade, and local representatives will judge the entries.

For more information, call Mainstreet at 762-0397 or visit:

www.mainstreetwaynesboro.org

In Greencastle

The Christmas season also officially begins in Greencastle this weekend as the town gathers in the square to light its tree Friday night. Festivities continue Saturday morning with the annual Christmas parade.

The tree was donated this year by Charlie and Ginny Mullen of West Walter Avenue. The Mullens have lived in their home for 47 years, and the tree has been there nearly as long.

"I think I put it in there in the early '70s," said Charlie Mullen, 74.

"We have enjoyed the beauty of this tree for 30 or 40 years," Mullen said. "It was time to donate it and let everyone in the area have a look at it. We're kind of sharing the beauty."

Charlie's wife of 54 years, Ginny, also 74, said she was hesitant at first about letting the tree go, but once she found out the committee had picked their tree, she was excited.

"Every time I go through the square, I'm gonna think 'That's my tree,'" she said

Crews cut down the Mullens' tree and installed it in the square Monday.

Tree-lighting festivities begin at 6 p.m., bells and programs will be passed out at 6:30 p.m. and the official lighting will happen at 7 p.m. As the tree is lit, those in attendance are asked to ring bells to symbolize the "ringing in" of the holiday season. The tree will be lit 24 hours a day through New Year's Day, thanks to the approval of Greencastle Borough Council.

A Greencastle-Antrim student will serve as the honorary Grand Marshal for the weekend, officially flipping the light switch for the town's tree Friday night and leading the Christmas Parade Saturday morning.

The annual Christmas parade, now in its 27th year, will begin at 9:21 a.m. Saturday, its traditional start time thanks to sponsor, VerStandig Broadcasting which owns radio station 92.1.

More than 50 entries from the area participate in the parade every year. The emcees for the parade this year are Big Bob and Ginger Bob of 101.5 Bob Rocks. Stacey Jarcy of VerStandig Broadcasting organized the event.

The parade starts at King and Main streets and proceeds south on Main Street, east on Washington Street and north again on Second Street, completing the 1-mile parade route at Second and Grant streets.

The official judging stand will be in front of Olympia Candy Kitchen in the first block of South Main Street.

Santa Claus will end the parade, and usher in the season by lighting the tree in the square. He will arrive on the pioneer train float, a replica of the historic train that was created by students at Franklin County Career and Technology Center and sponsored by the Downtown Business Council. Santa's train includes a coal car, a safari car and a caboose.

For more information, contact the DBC at 261-0072 or:

dbc@innernet.net

In Mont Alto

The tree-lighting ceremony in Mont Alto will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at borough hall, 3 N. Main St. The ceremony will honor firemen, with the tree to be lit by Charles Baker, president of the Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Department, and honor Rich Sleicher, vice president of the ambulance squad.

The ceremony also will feature caroling, singing by the praise team of First United Methodist Church, Greencastle, and refreshments. There will be treat bags for the children as well as a visit from Santa Claus, Smokey Bear and a miniature pony "decked out for Christmas."

Donations of cash and toys for the annual toy drive will be accepted.

Letters to Santa, which will be answered, may be dropped off from Nov. 30 to Dec. 17, in a special box at the borough office.

In Cascade

The One Mountain Foundation will hold its annual Mountaintop Community Tree Lighting and Fun with Santa activity from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Fort Ritchie Community Center and the parade field.

A large evergreen on the east end of the historic Fort Ritchie parade field will be decorated with hundreds of lights. The program includes children's games and activities for multiple age groups with prizes awarded to winners; musical selections performed and led by students from Cascade Elementary School; and the lighting of the Mountaintop community tree. Santa will be available for photos and to hear "wishes" from the children. Refreshments will be served.

The PenMar Development Corp. and the Fort Ritchie Community Center are co-sponsoring the event.

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